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April 20, 2018

April Showers

It's still chilly here in NYC, but the sun is shining, and spring is slowly but surely springing. Several marvelous things are happening this month, so here's a little stack of magic for you:

Jesse Bransford book and exhibition! Many of you know what a huge impact my dear friend Jesse Bransford has had on my life. He's one of the finest occult artists and teachers working today, and it's been a joy to watch his beautiful, potent work develop over the years. So thrilled that his book of Icelandic visual spells, A Book of Staves, is out now from the exquisite Fulgur Esoterica.

And if you are in NYC, you must come see his solo show, The Mahavidyas and Fields of Ice, opening tomorrow evening at Brooklyn's Ortega y Gasset Projects. Here's more information about that:

The Mahavidyas and Fields of Ice Jesse Bransford

Curated by Zahar VaksOn View: April 21–May 20th, 2018

Opening Reception: Saturday April 21st, 6:00-9:00pmJoin us for the opening reception of this show which will coincide with the the release of Bransford's new book A Book of Staves published by Fulgur.

Discussion: Sunday May 6th, 5:00 pm The Mahavidyas and the Divine Feminine with Jesse Bransford and Elizabeth Insogna, moderated by Pam Grossman.

Ortega y Gasset Projects presents The Mahavidyas and Fields of Ice, a solo exhibition by Jesse Bransford. April 21-May 20th, 2018. The exhibition will feature Bransford's paintings and drawings in conversation with a site-specific installation.

Feeling can lead to understanding. Other times, an understanding of something can hold certain emotions. Jesse Bransford‘s work does both simultaneously. His work elicits both understanding and an intuitive emotional response. Work is clear and lucid; one can experience it and say that they understand in that first moment of looking, yet over time the work becomes ambiguous: layered with subtle meaning and something that is beyond understanding.

Jesse Bransford's The Mahavidyas and Fields of Ice works with two specific magical trajectories: the Mahavidyas and Icelandic folk magic. These works seek to articulate the intimate relationship between the creation of art and the working of magic. Bransford calls these works "spells" not paintings. He describes his "spells" as having a hesitant and ephemeral quality resulting from the unforgiving medium of watercolor. Some of the works are direct manifestations of Iceland's land, using local well water and of a scale congruent with traveling in outdoor spaces. Bransford is highly aware of the power of color (he teaches color theory) and describes working with it as being a "synthesis of intuition and intellect. There is often too much of an attempt to make sense of color. Color is unpredictable. The magic lies in its visceral, pleasurable, and mysterious qualities; not verbal, not rational, and yet holding an internal logic." The color use in his "spells" takes on a language of its own, born of a deep engagement with the material.

Yantra (यन्त्र) in Sanskrit literally "machine contraption" is a mystical diagram, mainly from the Tantric traditions of the Indian religions. They are used for the worship of deities in temples or at home; as an aid in meditation; used for the benefits given by their supposed occult powers based on Hindu astrology and tantric texts. They are also used for the adornment of temple floors, due mainly to their aesthetic and symmetric qualities. Specific yantras are traditionally associated with specific deities. (Wikipedia)

The Mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) are a group of ten aspects of the supreme feminine principle (Adi Parashakti) in Hinduism. Especially invoked in Tantric practices, these emanations depict the cosmic cycle of birth, evolution, death, and regeneration. For example, Bhuvanesvari is the fourth concept and is the universe at the apex of its development. The entire Universe is said to be her body and all beings are ornaments of her infinite being. (Wikipedia) Her yantra here is imagined as a radiant space of light in fullness with the lotus petals carrying the colors of the rainbow.

Jesse Bransford is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work is exhibited internationally at venues including The Carnegie Museum of Art, the UCLA Hammer Museum, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center and the CCA Wattis Museum among others. He holds degrees from the New School for Social Research (BA), Parsons School of Design (BFA) and Columbia University (MFA). An associate professor of art at New York University and the chair of the Department of Art and Art Professions, Bransford's work has been involved with belief and the visual systems it creates since the 1990s. Early research intocolor meaning and cultural syncretism led to the occult traditions in general and the work of John Dee and Henry Cornelius Agrippa specifically. He has lectured widely on his work and the topics surrounding his work and is the co-organizer of the biennial Occult Humanities Conference in New York.

Zahar Vaks Is a visual artist based in New York, NY. He earned his BFA from Tyler School of Art, and his MFA from The Ohio State University. He has shown at the Leslie Heller Workspace and performed at the Henry street settlement in New York, The Contemporary Art Museum in Houston (CAMH), along with galleries in Philadelphia, Columbus, Las Vegas, Vienna Austria, Rome Italy, and on the island of Svalbard in Norway. Zahar attended the Galveston Artist Residency from 2012-2013. Currently, he is a member of the Ortega y Gasset Projects (OyG), an artist-run curatorial collective and exhibition space in Gowanus, Brooklyn. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York

I'm very much looking forward to moderating a discussion there with him and artist Elizabeth Insogna about the The Mahavidyas and the Divine Feminine on Sunday, May 6th at 5pm. Do join us.

On a related note, I had a very juicy conversation with Jesse on The Witch Wave. We talk about his career, his influences, art as magic, and so much more. Have a listen here, or on iTunes, Stitcher, or via RSS.

Speaking of the podcast, I've had loads of great guests on there over the past few weeks, including Rachel True of True Heart Tarot (and yes, co-star of 90s cult film, The Craft); author and fashion witch, Gabriela Herstik; comic book art legend of Wonder Woman and Black Magick, Nicola Scott; and many more. Have a listen - and if you dig it, please rate it, leave a comment, and spread the word. Your support is so very appreciated!

And speaking of Nicola Scott, looks like there's a Black Magick collected hardcover edition coming out in November, and available for pre-order now!

And if you can't wait for that, you can now order original Black Magick merch, including original art from Nicola, here.

In other news, I am lusting over the new Leonora Carrington retrospective opening tomorrow at Mexico City's Museo de Arte Moderno. My friend and Carrington scholar, Susan Aberth, is sending drool-worthy dispatches from the field, and if she's impressed, you can be sure it's going to be a mind-blowing show.

Madeline Miller's new novel, Circe, is here, and getting stellar reviews. I have my copy already, though no idea when I will actually get to read it, as I'm in writing purgatory for a good while longer. But I truly can't wait.

Some of you know of my Sanrio love (Gudetama, Kirimi-chan, and Aggretsuko are my primary jam, with some Little Twin Stars sprinkled on top for nostalgia.) Excited for the new Aggretsuko Netflix series that's dropping today. Get ready for some karaoke death metal red panda feminist rage!

And not quite Phantasmaphilic, but Killing Eve is easily the most stylish, compelling, delightfully twisted show going. It's about an MI5 worker (played by the incredible Sandra Oh) who is trying to track down a ridiculously fashionable and highly sociopathic lady assassin. It's got a powerhouse female cast, it's written by the ingenious Phoebe Waller-Bridge of Fleabag, and it's got a terrific soundtrack, too. Addicted.

Lastly, the highly anticipated book of Remedios Varo's writings and letters *finally* has a more detailed listing and publication date from Wakefield Press. November, you cannot come fast enough!